Magnet mount apparatus for a portable communication device

Abstract

A mounting apparatus for a portable communication device is provided. The mounting apparatus is mountable and secured onto a wearable garment or other external substrate using both magnetic engagement and tethers. The mounting apparatus minimizes shaking of the portable communication device and/or the possibility of the portable communication device getting knocked off the external substrate.

We claim: 
     
       1. A mounting apparatus for an electronic communication device comprising:
 a holster to secure a device; 
 
       a rigid magnetic frame having a front surface and a back surface, wherein the rigid magnetic frame is adjustably coupled to the holster at the front surface and further has an integrated clip system at the back surface, the integrated clip system being configured to engage with a front surface of a wearable garment, the integrated clip system comprising a top tether cutout and a bottom tether cutout with space therebetween for accommodating a lanyard strap; and 
       a center buckle between the top tether cutout and the bottom tether cutout to further secure the lanyard strap to the mounting apparatus; and
 a flexible magnetic frame configured to be positioned behind a back surface of an article of clothing while magnetically being engaged with the rigid magnetic frame, and the center buckle being recessed to prevent an engagement of the lanyard strap from hindering a magnetic engagement between the rigid magnetic frame and the flexible magnetic frame. 
 
     
     
       2. The mounting apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible magnetic frame is formed of a flexible material, with a plurality of magnets integrated therein. 
     
     
       3. The mounting apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the flexible material contains rubber material that encases the plurality of magnets. 
     
     
       4. The mounting apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of magnets is stitched between a plurality of layers of flexible rubber material. 
     
     
       5. The mounting apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of magnets is co-molded within a flexible rubber substrate. 
     
     
       6. The mounting apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of magnets can be independently coupled and separated. 
     
     
       7. The mounting apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the flexible material provides an anti-slip surface to prevent the mounting apparatus from sliding upon the wearable garment. 
     
     
       8. The mounting apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein a combination of the plurality of magnets in the flexible magnet frame and the anti-slip surface enable the mounting apparatus to mount externally onto a metal surface. 
     
     
       9. The mounting apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the metal surface comprises at least one of:
 a metal door; 
 a metal door frame; 
 a vehicle chassis; and 
 a metal pole. 
 
     
     
       10. The mounting apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the flexible material is configured to be conformable to variations in thickness of a wearable garment and to accommodate wearable garment features. 
     
     
       11. The mounting apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the wearable garment features comprise:
 zippers; 
 straps; 
 padding; and 
 buttons. 
 
     
     
       12. The mounting apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the flexible material is further configured to be conformable to non-garment surfaces of a predetermined thickness. 
     
     
       13. The mounting apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the integrated clip system of the rigid magnetic frame further comprises:
 side integrated anti-rip clips to prevent mounting apparatus separating from the wearable garment. 
 
     
     
       14. A mounting apparatus for an electronic communication device comprising:
 a holster to secure a device; 
 
       a rigid magnetic frame having a front surface and a back surface, wherein the rigid magnetic frame is adjustably coupled to the holster at the front surface and further has an integrated clip system at the back surface, the integrated clip system being configured to engage with a front surface of a wearable garment, comprising; and
 a flexible magnetic frame configured to be positioned behind a back surface of an article of clothing while magnetically being engaged with the rigid magnetic frame, wherein the flexible magnetic frame comprises: 
 a first tether cutout that provides flexibility, relief, and an access for tethering, the first tether cutout being placed in a middle top edge of the flexible magnetic frame to allow for tethering through a collar of the wearable garment; 
 a relief hole vertically below the first tether cutout to provide additional flexibility and mounting access; 
 a second tether cutout located vertically below the relief hole to provide additional flexibility, relief, and access for tethering; and 
 a third tether cutout near a bottom edge of the flexible magnetic frame to provide additional flexibility, relief, and access for tethering. 
 
     
     
       15. The mounting apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the opening of collar of the wearable garment comprises at least one of:
 a polo shirt; 
 a button down; and 
 a T-shirt. 
 
     
     
       16. The mounting apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the first tether cutout is formed in the shape of a horizontal slot, the second tether cutout is formed in the shape of a horizontal slot, the third tether cutout is formed in the shape of a horizontal slot, and the relief hole is formed in the shape of a vertical slot between the first tether cutout and the second tether cutout. 
     
     
       17. The mounting apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the second tether cutout and third tether cutout can be tethered to an outside surface of a wearable garment so that the holster, the rigid magnetic frame, and the flexible magnetic frame are all external to a wearable garment. 
     
     
       18. The mounting apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible magnetic frame is configured to respectively fold horizontally and vertically at an angle of at least 90 degrees. 
     
     
       19. The mounting apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible magnetic frame is configured to fold upon itself. 
     
     
       20. The mounting apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the rigid magnetic frame comprises:
 a single molded rigid main body with a plurality of magnets for aligning with corresponding magnets of the flexible magnetic frame. 
 
     
     
       21. The mounting apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the plurality of magnets on the rigid magnetic frame activate a sensor within the electronic communication device inserted within the holster to determine the electronic communication device's position within the holster and trigger sensors within the electronic communication device. 
     
     
       22. The mounting apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the rigid magnetic frame contains a screw mount that enables the holster to attach to the rigid magnetic frame at different orientations varying by integrals of 90 degrees. 
     
     
       23. The mounting apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the rigid magnetic frame contains a plurality of magnets spaced apart so that magnetic fields from the plurality of magnets do not negatively interfere with an electronic device held within the holster, and the plurality of magnets being sufficiently spaced apart to minimize interference with wearable garment features. 
     
     
       24. The mounting apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a magnetic pull force between a plurality of magnets in the flexible magnetic frame and a plurality of magnets in the rigid magnetic frame is greater than 20 lbs. 
     
     
       25. A mounting apparatus for an electronic communication device comprising:
 a holster to secure a device; 
 a rigid magnetic frame having a front surface and a back surface, wherein the rigid magnetic frame is adjustably coupled to the holster at the front surface and further has an integrated clip system at the back surface, the integrated clip system being configured to engage with a front surface of a wearable garment, comprising; and 
 a flexible magnetic frame configured to be positioned behind a back surface of an article of clothing while magnetically being engaged with the rigid magnetic frame, wherein the flexible magnetic frame comprises:
 two top tether cutouts placed along a middle top edge of the flexible magnetic frame to allow for tethering to a wearable garment, 
 
 two bottom tether cutouts placed along a middle bottom edge of the flexible magnetic frame to allow for additional tethering to a wearable garment; and
 four middle tether cutouts that provide additional access for tethering, two of the four middle tether cutouts being placed along a middle left edge of the flexible magnetic frame and another two middle tether cutouts being placed along a middle right edge of the flexible magnetic frame. 
 
 
     
     
       26. A mounting apparatus for an electronic communication device comprising:
 a holster to secure a device; 
 a rigid magnetic frame having a front surface and a back surface, the rigid magnetic frame being formed of a single molded rigid main body with a plurality of magnets integrated therein, the rigid magnetic frame being adjustably coupled to the holster at the front surface and further having an integrated clip system at the back surface, the integrated clip system being configured to engage with a front surface of a wearable garment; and 
 a flexible magnetic frame configured to be positioned behind a back surface of an article of clothing while magnetically engaging with the plurality of magnets integrated within the rigid magnetic frame via a plurality of corresponding magnets integrated within the flexible magnetic frame. 
 
     
     
       27. The mounting apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the flexible material conforms to variations in thickness of the wearable garment.